2018Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2018-02-08UTC13:03:48+00:002018-02-08Glass' meditation on Gandhi's principles of non-violent resistance is powerfully treated in Phelim McDermott's virtuosic 2007 staging.A persistent meditative state: Glass' Satyagraha at English National Operaen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-glass-satyagraha-english-national-opera-spence-mcdermott-kamensek-february-2018Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/76260-eno-satyagraha-toby-spence-eno-chorus-3--c--donald-cooper.jpg510340Toby Spence (Gandhi), ENO chorusDonald Cooper2018-Feb-01, The London Coliseum: Satyagrahahttps://bachtrack.com/listing-glass-satyagraha-english-national-opera-spence-mcdermott-kamensek-february-20182018-02-012018-02-27The London ColiseumLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomWC2N 4ESSt. Martin's Lane51.5097808100746-0.126857757568359https://www.eno.org/whats-on/satyagraha/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/58742-eno-satygraha-v2-2000x1000-800x600.jpg3

2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2017-08-11UTC15:22:09+00:002017-08-11Affecting Britten, distinctive Elias and popular Elgar, with a curio of arranged Purcell thrown in, from Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.Prom 32: Four centuries of British music from Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC NOWen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-prom-32-elias-elschenbroich-wigglesworth-bbc-now-august-2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngNick Bostonhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16655https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16655https://bachtrack.com/files/268-nick_boston.jpgNick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here. https://bachtrack.com/files/65669-ryan-wigglesworth-benjamin-ealovega-resized.jpg510340Ryan WigglesworthBenjamin Ealovega2017-Aug-09, Royal Albert Hall: Prom 32https://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-albert-hall/prom-32/09-august-2017/19-002017-08-092017-08-09Royal Albert HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSW7 2APKensington Gore51.5014299260821-0.17751932144165https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/edc3d4?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/78814-artwork-for-events--1-.jpg3

2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2017-02-06UTC09:21:35+00:002017-02-06Billy Budd triumphs in Madrid thanks to an inspired orchestra, a solid cast and a dream team of stage magicians.Deborah Warner's new Billy Budd sets a new standard in Madriden_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-billy-budd-warner-imbrailo-spence-sherratt-teatro-real-madrid-february-2017Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngFernando Remirohttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15201https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15201https://bachtrack.com/files/40593-remiro-fernando.jpgFernando studied history and political science. He is passionate about opera and lied, a devoted fan of Benjamin Britten, and a lover of challenging stage productions. He wrote opera reviews for the Spanish musical magazine Ritmo and tweets about opera at @operatweets.https://bachtrack.com/files/52603-billybudd-jacques-imbrailo-clive-bayley-teatro-real-c-javier-del-real-resized.jpg510340Jacques Imbrailo (Billy Budd) and Clive Bayley (Dansker)Javier del Real | Teatro del Real2017-Jan-31, Teatro Real: Billy Buddhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/teatro-real/billy-budd/31-january-2017/20-002017-01-312017-02-28Teatro RealMadridMadridSpain2801340.418256-3.711206http://teatro-real.com/en/season-16-17/opera/billy-budd?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/51823-billy-budd.jpg4

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-11-14UTC16:02:01+00:002016-11-14The silence of the Cenotaph was swept away by the greatest howl of anguish in music.A Berlioz Requiem of scale and sensitivityen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-berlioz-requiem-roth-spence-bbcso-london-november-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMark Valenciahttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/17174https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/17174https://bachtrack.com/files/280-mark_valencia.jpgMark has worked in arts journalism for more than thirty years, initially as a broadcaster then later in print as a writer and French-English translator for music magazines and CD companies. He has been a regular reviewer of opera, music and theatre since 2008 and is opera editor for WhatsOnStage. Mark's background is in education - teaching drama and directing. His passion for music and theatre has led him to collaborate with a number of composers on lyrics and librettos.https://bachtrack.com/files/48835-bbc-so-royal-albert-hall-13-nov-berlioz-cr-bbc-chris-christodoulou-4-resized.jpg510340François-Xavier Roth and the BBCSOBBC | Chris Christodoulou2016-Nov-13, Royal Albert Hall: Berlioz's Grande messe des mortshttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-albert-hall/berliozs-grande-messe-des-morts/13-november-2016/19-302016-11-132016-11-13Royal Albert HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSW7 2APKensington Gore51.5014299260821-0.17751932144165http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2016/berlioz-grand-messe-des-morts?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/44638-bbc-symphony-orchestra-logo.jpg4

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-10-25UTC14:28:53+00:002016-10-25Purists look away. Translating Müller’s poetry from its sublime German to work well in English was always going to be a difficult task, but Spence’s infectious enthusiasm carried it off.The Fair Maid of the Mill: Toby Spence’s lovelorn miller embodies new translationen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-schubert-schone-mullerin-spence-glynn-wigmore-hall-october-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngOlivia Bellhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/22437https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/22437https://bachtrack.com/files/44125-olivia-bell.jpgOlivia has recently graduated as Senior choral Scholar from Queens'
College, Cambridge, where she read English and became Culture Editor at
the Tab. A freelance soprano, she currently works as a content editor at
the Telegraph.https://bachtrack.com/files/47866-toby-spence-mitch-jenkins.jpg510340Toby SpenceMitch Jenkins2016-Oct-23, Wigmore Hall: Schubert in English: The Beautiful Maid of the Millhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/wigmore-hall/schubert-in-english-the-beautiful-maid-of-the-mill/23-october-2016/15-002016-10-232016-10-23Wigmore HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomW1U 2BP36 Wigmore Street51.5165679060013-0.148358345031738https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/schubert-201610231500?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/64407-wigmore-hall-logo.jpg3

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-10-06UTC15:42:26+00:002016-09-30Houston Symphony’s Creation was not pristine, but it caught the emotion overall so well that perhaps the out-of-place details don’t matter.Houston Symphony delivers a Creation to marvelen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-haydn-creation-houston-symphony-september-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngSydney Boydhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16545https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16545https://bachtrack.com/files/261-sydney_boyd.jpgSydney Boyd is an arts writer, scholar, and violinist. She has been a music critic in Houston since 2012 and is the blog author of Girl at the Opera. She studies intersections of 20th century literature and music in the English PhD program at Rice University and performs regularly with both classical and contemporary ensembles across the United States.https://bachtrack.com/files/46648-andres-orozco-estrada-werner-kmetitsch-resized.jpg300412Andrés Orozco-EstradaWerner Kmetitsch2016-Sep-29, Jones Hall: Haydn's The Creationhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/jones-hall/haydns-the-creation/29-september-2016/20-002016-09-292016-10-02Jones HallHoustonTexasUnited StatesTX 7700229.7604284044929-95.3699219226837https://bachtrack.com/files/41044-houssymph-logo.jpg3

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-06-27UTC08:49:59+00:002016-06-24Spence sounds confident in an evening of Tippett and Britten at Snape, culminating in a spinetingling account of John Donne's Holy Sonnet X. Boy Donne good: Toby Spence in Tippett and Britten III, Aldeburgh Festivalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-tippett-britten-spence-osborne-aldeburgh-festival-june-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngCharlotte Valorihttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/5489https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/5489https://bachtrack.com/files/173-charlotte_valori.jpgCharlotte Valori read Classics at Christ Church, Oxford. As a classicist, her main interest is Greek tragedy and its reception by later cultures, which has led to a continuing passion for theatre and opera. Charlotte reviews for several online magazines, and won the Bachtrack Opera Award 2015 for Best Written English Review. Follow her on Twitter @operissima.https://bachtrack.com/files/41603-julian-milford-toby-spence-aldeburgh-festival-2016-sam-murray-sutton-resized.jpg300400Julian Milford and Toby SpenceSam Murray-Sutton2016-Jun-20, Snape Maltings Concert Hall: Tippett & Britten IIIhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/snape-maltings-concert-hall/tippett-britten-iii/20-june-2016/20-002016-06-202016-06-20Snape Maltings Concert HallSnapeEast of EnglandUnited KingdomIP17 1SP52.16452181851551.49594306945801https://tickets.aldeburgh.co.uk/Online/2016-festival-Tippett-Britten-III#?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/41598-toby-20spence-20--20mitch-20jenkins.jpg3

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-06-21UTC14:44:09+00:002016-06-21Mozart's messy monster of an opera gets a brutalist tidy-up at Garsington, but the determinedly straightforward reading only makes this work's innate problems more obvious. A stern Father's Day treat: Mozart Idomeneo at Garsingtonen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-idomeneo-albery-spence-garsington-june-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngCharlotte Valorihttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/5489https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/5489https://bachtrack.com/files/173-charlotte_valori.jpgCharlotte Valori read Classics at Christ Church, Oxford. As a classicist, her main interest is Greek tragedy and its reception by later cultures, which has led to a continuing passion for theatre and opera. Charlotte reviews for several online magazines, and won the Bachtrack Opera Award 2015 for Best Written English Review. Follow her on Twitter @operissima.https://bachtrack.com/files/41352-idomeneo-toby-spence-garsington-clive-barda-resized.jpg510340Toby Spence (Idomeneo)Clive Barda2016-Jun-19, Garsington Opera: Garsington Opera: Idomeneohttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/garsington-opera/garsington-opera-idomeneo/19-june-2016/17-502016-06-192016-07-11Garsington OperaHigh WycombeSouth-EastUnited KingdomHP14 3YEThe Wormsley Estate51.6492750856721-0.925297737121582http://www.garsingtonopera.org/our-season/idomeneo/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/51322-garsington-opera-logo.jpg3

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-04-25UTC06:53:31+00:002016-04-24“If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it.” There was certainly plenty of Shakespeare-inspired music on the bill for the London Philharmonic Orchestra's celebration of The Bard.
Inspired by Shakespeare: a London gala to celebrate The Barden_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-shakespeare400-gala-jurowski-london-philharmonic-april-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMark Pullingerhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/files/218-1097_4423_markpullinger.jpgMark is one of Bachtrack’s editors and Chair of the Music Section of The Critics' Circle. An experienced opera critic, with a passion for Verdi, he can often be found propping up a standing place at the ROH. He also reviews concerts and dance, with a particular love for Russian and French repertoire. Mark contributes to Gramophone and Opera magazines and blogs at Beckmesser's Quill. https://bachtrack.com/files/38365-allison_bell_felipe_pagani_resized.jpg300450Allison BellFelipe Pagani2016-Apr-23, Royal Festival Hall: London Philharmonic Orchestra: SHAKESPEARE400 - Anniversary Gala concerthttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-festival-hall/london-philharmonic-orchestra-shakespeare400-anniversary-gala-concert/23-april-2016/19-302016-04-232016-04-23Southbank Centre: Royal Festival HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSE1 8XXBelvedere Road51.505687-0.11683700000003228http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/lpo-230416-89117?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/39528-southbank-centre-2016-17-season-image-240-x-240.jpg3

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-12-07UTC17:03:56+00:002015-12-06The Met's brought back its Die Fledermaus set in the turn-of-the-century Vienna in a glittering production with a winning ensemble of singers.The Met's revival of Die Fledermaus rings in the holiday seasonen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-fledermaus-levine-metropolitan-opera-new-york-december-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAko Imamurahttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16328https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/16328https://bachtrack.com/files/251-ako_imamura.jpegAtsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.https://bachtrack.com/files/31774-fledermaus_phillips_met_opera_ken_howard_resized.jpg510340Susanna Phillips (Rosalinde)Ken Howard | Metropolitan Opera2015-Dec-04, Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House: Die Fledermaushttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/lincoln-center-metropolitan-opera-house/die-fledermaus/04-december-2015/19-302015-12-042016-01-07Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera HouseNew York CityNew YorkUnited States1002340.772270627753-73.9839720726013

Simon Rattle and the Vienna Philharmonic present Elgar's Dream of Gerontius as a well crafted gem of the English choral tradition, but fall short of a dramatic outpouring of human emotion and religious fervour.

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-09-12UTC14:36:50+00:002015-09-12Simon Rattle and the Vienna Philharmonic present Elgar's Dream of Gerontius as a well crafted gem of the English choral tradition, but fall short of a dramatic outpouring of human emotion and religious fervour.Prom 75: Beauty trumps drama in Rattle and the Vienna Phil's Gerontiusen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-prom-75-elgar-dream-of-gerontius-rattle-vienna-philharmonic-september-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/28110-prom_75_magdalena_kozena_bbc_chris_christodoulou.jpg300452Magdalena KoženáBBC | Chris Christodoulou2015-Sep-11, Royal Albert Hall: Prom 75: Elgar – The Dream of Gerontiushttps://bachtrack.com/listing-prom-75-elgar-dream-of-gerontius-rattle-vienna-philharmonic-september-20152015-09-112015-09-11Royal Albert HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSW7 2APKensington Gore51.5014299260821-0.17751932144165http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/bbc-proms/prom75/default.aspx?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/78814-artwork-for-events--1-.jpg3

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-06-23UTC09:15:38+00:002015-06-22This was, by no doubt, the largest ensemble on stage at Colston Hall this season with five choirs and an orchestra that took over the stage. Rutter conducts Rutter: Colston Hall's Summer Gala Concerten_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-rutter-dove-eloff-spence-bristol-june-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlexandra Hamilton-Ayreshttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/755https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/755https://bachtrack.com/files/25987-alexandra_hamilton_ayres.jpgAlexandra is a composer and journalist contributing to several arts websites. When she isn’t writing music or words, she lives a parallel life as an artist and illustrator in Bristol. She did her undergraduate degree in Music at the University of Bristol and her musical interests lie mainly in new music, music for film and minimalism. Follow her on twitter @AHamiltonAyres.https://bachtrack.com/files/24954-erica_eloff_sussie_ahlburg.jpg300432Erica EloffSussie Ahlburg2015-Jun-20, Colston Hall: Summer Gala concerthttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/colston-hall/summer-gala-concert/20-june-2015/19-302015-06-202015-06-20Colston HallBristolSouth-WestUnited KingdomBS1 5AR51.4548492873127-2.598277330398563

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-06-02UTC08:30:16+00:002015-06-01Toby Spence and Sarah Connolly make splendid soulful companions and conductor Peter Oundjian brings a resonant depth to Elgar's period-piece in a fine end to the RSNO's season.Sarah Connolly and Toby Spence are soulful companions in RSNO's Dream of Gerontiusen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-gerontius-oundjian-spence-connolly-rsno-may-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Smythehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/994https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/994https://bachtrack.com/files/40601-david-smythe.jpgDavid the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.https://bachtrack.com/files/23880-toby_spence_mitch_jenkins.jpg510413Toby SpenceMitch Jenkins2015-May-30, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: The Dream of Gerontiushttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/glasgow-royal-concert-hall/the-dream-of-gerontius/30-may-2015/19-302015-05-302015-05-30Glasgow Royal Concert HallGlasgowScotlandUnited KingdomG2 3NY55.8655591042831-4.25286769866943http://www.rsno.org.uk/live/concert-listing/concert-information/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.com&c_id=268&action=Read%20Morehttps://bachtrack.com/files/44162-rsno-logo.jpg3

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2017-09-15UTC07:48:35+00:002015-02-24With its latest incarnation of Die Zauberflöte, the Royal Opera ticks all the boxes in a strongly cast revival. Strongly cast revival of McVicar’s Enlightenment production of Die Zauberflöte at Covent Gardenen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-zauberflote-brugger-zeppenfeld-werba-royal-opera-february-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMark Pullingerhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/files/218-1097_4423_markpullinger.jpgMark is one of Bachtrack’s editors and Chair of the Music Section of The Critics' Circle. An experienced opera critic, with a passion for Verdi, he can often be found propping up a standing place at the ROH. He also reviews concerts and dance, with a particular love for Russian and French repertoire. Mark contributes to Gramophone and Opera magazines and blogs at Beckmesser's Quill. https://bachtrack.com/files/8330-flute_siminska_brugger_douet_roh2_resized.jpg300420Anna Siminska (Queen of the Night)Mark Douet | ROH2015-Feb-23, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden: Die Zauberflötehttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/royal-opera-house-covent-garden/die-zauberflote/23-february-2015/19-002015-02-232015-03-11Royal Opera House, Covent GardenLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomWC2E 9DDBow Street,
,Covent Garden51.513371-0.122399999999974

Die Fledermaus is as quintessentially Viennese as zithers and Schnitzel. In John Wilson, the Philharmonia and a fine ensemble cast, we should have had all the ingredients for a memorable matinée performance, but a few elements meant the fizz went rather flat.

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-04-28UTC12:05:54+00:002014-04-27Die Fledermaus is as quintessentially Viennese as zithers and Schnitzel. In John Wilson, the Philharmonia and a fine ensemble cast, we should have had all the ingredients for a memorable matinée performance, but a few elements meant the fizz went rather flat.A Fledermaus with intermittent fizzen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-fledermaus-wilson-apr-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMark Pullingerhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/15668https://bachtrack.com/files/218-1097_4423_markpullinger.jpgMark is one of Bachtrack’s editors and Chair of the Music Section of The Critics' Circle. An experienced opera critic, with a passion for Verdi, he can often be found propping up a standing place at the ROH. He also reviews concerts and dance, with a particular love for Russian and French repertoire. Mark contributes to Gramophone and Opera magazines and blogs at Beckmesser's Quill. https://bachtrack.com/files/5060-malin_christensson_ahlburg.jpg280434Malin ChristenssonSussie Ahlburg2014-Apr-27, Royal Festival Hall: Philharmonia: Wilson conducts Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaushttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/royal-festival-hall/philharmonia-wilson-conducts-johann-strauss-die-fledermaus/27-april-2014/15-002014-04-272014-04-27Southbank Centre: Royal Festival HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSE1 8XXBelvedere Road51.505687-0.11683700000003228http://philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/27apr14/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/39528-southbank-centre-2016-17-season-image-240-x-240.jpg3

My mother always told me not to sit too close in the theatre, and after seeing this revival of Martin Kusej’s modern realization of Stravinksy’s The Rake’s Progress at the Theater an der Wien, I think I know what she was talking about.Act I begins innocuously enough in a sparse apartment, unfurnished apart from a mattress and a television.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:48:51+00:002013-08-13Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres reviews the National Youth Orchestra and Choirs performing Beethoven, Turnage and Vaughan Williams.Prom 38: The NYO celebrate the Royal Philharmonic Society at 200 with Beethoven and Turnageen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bbc-prom-38-2013-nyo-rps-free-promBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlexandra Hamilton-Ayreshttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/755https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/755https://bachtrack.com/files/25987-alexandra_hamilton_ayres.jpgAlexandra is a composer and journalist contributing to several arts websites. When she isn’t writing music or words, she lives a parallel life as an artist and illustrator in Bristol. She did her undergraduate degree in Music at the University of Bristol and her musical interests lie mainly in new music, music for film and minimalism. Follow her on twitter @AHamiltonAyres.https://bachtrack.com/files/2937-prom_38_cr_chris_christodoulou_6.jpg400400Vasily Petrenko acknowledges the bust of Beethoven after conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 wit BBC/Chris Chri2013-Aug-11, Royal Albert Hall: Prom 38 - Free promhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-bbc-prom-38-2013-nyo-rps-free-prom2013-08-112013-08-11Royal Albert HallLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSW7 2APKensington Gore51.5014299260821-0.17751932144165http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/78814-artwork-for-events--1-.jpg4

The newly built and unconventionally imposing Coventry Cathedral, built next to the ruins of the original medieval building destroyed in the Second World War, played host to the first performance of Britten’s War Requiem in 1962.

Of the various themes that make up Britten’s Gloriana, written to celebrate the coronation in 1953 and being given a rare outing at Covent Garden to mark the work’s 60th anniversary and Britten’s 100th, the most effective by far is a sort of operatic expansion of Shakespeare’s line “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:46:20+00:002013-07-04David Karlin reviews Richard Jones' production of Gloriana at the Royal Opera House with Susan Bullock and Toby Spence.Elizabethana I and II: Britten's Gloriana at Covent Gardenen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-roh-gloriana-richard-jonesBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/2761-gloriana_130617_1786_gloriana_adj_spence_as_essex_bullock_as_queen_elizabeth_i__c__barda.jpg400400Susan Bullock and Toby Spence ROH / Clive Barda2013-Jun-20, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden: Glorianahttps://bachtrack.com/listing-roh-gloriana-richard-jones2013-06-202013-07-06Royal Opera House, Covent GardenLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomWC2E 9DDBow Street,
,Covent Garden51.513371-0.122399999999973

The Salle Pleyel’s programmatic dichotomy between “memory” and “creation” continually seeks to promote the more established names in classical music, whilst also shedding light on lesser-known repertoires from all musical epochs.

It’s pretty luxurious to be able to stumble out of your front door at ten to six, wander five minutes round the corner to your friendly local cinema, be greeted with a glass of sparkling wine, and then watch a high-definition live screening of a top contemporary opera production at the Met.

It’s been a busy couple of months for Berlioz’s Requiem in London. First there was Sir Colin Davis’s June performance at St. Paul’s, with the reinforced London Symphony Orchestra’s brass bands arrayed around the dome.

The late-night Proms usually offer something very different from the regular programme, be it chamber music, jazz, or choral music. Thursday evening’s Prom was no exception to this, featuring the music of the somewhat forgotten Ivor Novello, sometimes considered the Andrew Lloyd Webber of the early 20th Century.

Thomas Adès' music has a rawness that only comes across heard live. This seems particularly true when he conducts it himself. Gone are the smooth contours of recordings and other conductors, replaced by a focus on infectious rhythm and sometimes brutal colours. His lyrical tendencies therefore become all the more powerful.Tevot is the perfect example.

The classical world came off lightly in the recent New Year Honours list, with the Royal Opera House’s knighted Antonio Pappano the only winner. He has much to celebrate, more so after directing last night’s concert performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with authoritative ease and good cheer, supported by a fine array of soloists.

2012Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-03-30UTC14:18:25+00:002012-01-13Rohan Shotton reviews Antonio Pappano conducting a concert performance of the Royal Opera House's Meistersinger in Birmingham.Pappano's triumphant Royal Opera House Meistersinger in Birminghamen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-pappano-roh-meistersinger-symphony-hall-birminghamBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngRohan Shottonhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/242https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/242https://bachtrack.com/files/124-rohan.jpgRohan has reviewed concerts and opera across the UK and Europe, but chiefly in Manchester, where he enjoys conducting and playing percussion and piano. He works as a hospital doctor, having studied in St Andrews and Manchester, and tweets as @RohanShotton.https://bachtrack.com/files/935-antonio_pappano.jpg400400Antonio Pappano2012-Jan-11, Birmingham Symphony Hall: The Royal Opera: Die Meistersingerhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-pappano-roh-meistersinger-symphony-hall-birmingham2012-01-112012-01-11Birmingham Symphony HallBirminghamWest MidlandsUnited KingdomB1Broad Street52.479179918226-1.90926074981695

Young man spurns the love of a good woman. Time passes. Man realises the error of his ways, but it is too late. It's not exactly the most taxing of plot lines, but in Eugene Onegin, Alexander Pushkin turned it into a masterpiece.

2011Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:21:24+00:002011-11-13David Karlin reviews Deborah Warner's production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin for English National OperaTrue to the spirit of Pushkin: ENO's Eugene Oneginen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-eugene-onegin-enoBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/824-eugene_onegin_eno_2011_cast_credit_neil_libbert_cropped__1_.jpg400400ENO Eugene Onegin Neil Libbert2011-Nov-12, The London Coliseum: Eugene Oneginhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-eugene-onegin-eno2011-11-122011-12-03The London ColiseumLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomWC2N 4ESSt. Martin's Lane51.5097808100746-0.126857757568359http://www.eno.org/book-now.php?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.com&eventid=8130https://bachtrack.com/files/10361-onegin_1.jpg4

Perhaps visions of the royal princes in battle dress influenced last night’s programme. Or perhaps it was merely felt that Beethoven’s Eroica symphony requires a suitably epic companion. Either way, the result was a rare performance of Britten’s enormous Battle of Heroes, written to honour the members of the International Brigade who died in the Spanish Civil war.

“Off with their heads!” I vividly recall being terrorized as a preschooler hearing Walt Disney’s sadistic, loud-mouthed Queen of Hearts thunder these signature lines. I have since learned that decapitation as capital punishment is not exclusive to the fictional Queen of Hearts of Lewis Carroll and Walt Disney, but rather grim historical reality.

For a long period, Charles Gounod's Faust was one of the most frequently performed operas, its popularity due to a lusciously romantic score which contains a series of showstopping set-piece arias, many of which have found their way into popular culture (to give just one example, the Jewel Song in Act III has a starring role in the Tintin story The Castafiore Emerald).

2010Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:10:25+00:002010-09-24Gardner conducts Gounod beautifully and there’s strong singing from Iain Paterson, but a distracting production loses the opera’s soulGounod's Faust at the ENOen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/gounod-faust-enoBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/341-faust_toby_spence_iain_paterson_2_credit_catherine_ashmore.jpg324400Iain Paterson as Mephistopheles watches over Toby Spence as Faust: Catherine Ashmore, ENO2010-Sep-21, The London Coliseum: Fausthttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/the-london-coliseum/faust/21-september-2010/19-002010-09-212010-09-21The London ColiseumLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomWC2N 4ESSt. Martin's Lane51.5097808100746-0.1268577575683592